Population Growth and Land Use Dynamics along Urban-Rural Gradient

In this study we apply a spatial conditional logit model to determine factors influencing land cover change in three contiguous counties in West Georgia between 1992 and 2001 using point (pixel) based observations of land characteristics. We found that accessibility to population and population growth affect not only development of rural lands and transition between agricultural and forestry uses, but also influence changes between forest types. The model could be used to project land use-land cover change at watershed or subwatershed level and thus serve as a valuable tool for county and city planners.